ENGL 2120
Group Presentations
Requirements:


Each presentation should be between 8-10 minutes long.
All individuals should share the responsibility equally; in other words, each group member should
take part in the planning process, the research, as well as the actual presentation itself. It's fine if you
prefer as a group to divide the work amongst yourselves, so long as each of you plays a part in all
aspects of the process, from preparation to delivery.

Presentations must adhere to the topic assigned; those presentations that are off topic will receive a
failing grade.

Presentations should incorporate at least one secondary source; internet sources are allowed so long as
they are articles from a scholarly journal or database.

Each group should turn in a brief summary of the presentation (typed, somewhere between a ½ page
to a full page), with a Works Cited page included. (Note: The summary is due on the date that your
group presents.)

The presentation is formal in the sense that you should be well-prepared for it; this will entail at least
one practice run through.
____________________________________________________________________
See below for a list of dates and topics/authors:
Group #
Presentation Date
Author/Topic
1
Wednesday, February 2nd
Chaucer, General Prologue of CT
2
Monday, February 14th
Marlowe, Dr. Faustus
3
Wednesday, February 23rd
Marvell, “To His Coy Mistress”
4
Wednesday, March 16th
Swift, “A Modest Proposal”
5
Monday, March 21st
Pope, “The Rape of the Lock”
6
Monday, April 4th
Percy Bysshe Shelley/Romanticism
7
Wednesday, April 6th
Coleridge, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
8
Monday, April 18th
Woolf, A Room of One’s Own
Group #1: Each member of your group should choose one pilgrim from the General Prologue to The
Canterbury Tales and offer a discussion of how that character represents estates satire; in other words, offer a
character analysis that supports the assertion that Chaucer, in that particular portrait, is satirizing a specific
class. (Hint: One way to determine which characters are "people" versus which characters are "types" is to pay
close attention to the subtle details that Chaucer offers.)
Group #2: Examine the characterization of Mephistophilis in Marlowe's Dr. Faustus. In what ways is he
problematic (or counter to type/expectations) as a servant of the devil? Central to your discussion should be an
examination of why Marlowe might have characterized him as such. Along these same lines, consider the link
between Faustus's fall and his interactions with Mephistophilis and the other demons. What evidence is there to
suggest that Faustus is less a victim of their manipulation and more a willing participant?
Group #3: Provide a brief overview of the general style and content of the carpe diem poem. Then, discuss
how Marvell's "To His Coy Mistress" both adheres to and revises the carpe diem style/format.
Group #4: Discuss the cultural context during which Swift wrote “A Modest Proposal.” What social issues is
Swift addressing in his “proposal”?
Group #5: Discuss the ways in which “The Rape of the Lock” is a mock epic.
Group #6: Briefly discuss some of the chief ideologies of the Romantic Era (i.e. What things did the Romantics
value? With what social/cultural issues were they concerned?), then examine the ways in which Shelley’s “Ode
to the West Wind” reflects these ideologies.
Group #7: Examine the ways in which Coleridge juxtaposes Christian elements with elements of the
supernatural. To what effect does he do so? Consider, too, the issue of crime and punishment in the text – why
might Coleridge have spent so little time describing the killing of the Albatross, when it is such a crucial aspect
of the overall plot?
Group #8: Offer an overview of Woolf’s basic argument – for what is she advocating? How does she justify
her argument? Discuss some of the most crucial elements of Woolf’s argument.
Please sign up for a presentation date/topic below, including your email address (my.uwg only). There should
only be two presenters for each topic.
Group #1
Chaucer, General Prologue of CT
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Group #2
Marlowe, Dr. Faustus
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Group #3
Marvell, “To His Coy Mistress”
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Group #4
Swift, “A Modest Proposal”
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Group #5
Pope, “The Rape of the Lock”
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Group #6
Percy Bysshe Shelley
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Group #7
Coleridge, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Group #8
Woolf, A Room of One’s Own
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
ENGL 2120
Group #1: Chaucer, General Prologue of CT
Requirements:


Each presentation should be between 8-10 minutes long.
All individuals should share the responsibility equally; in other words, each group member should
take part in the planning process, the research, as well as the actual presentation itself. It's fine if you
prefer as a group to divide the work amongst yourselves, so long as each of you plays a part in all
aspects of the process, from preparation to delivery.

Presentations must adhere to the topic assigned; those presentations that are off topic will receive a
failing grade.

Presentations should incorporate at least one secondary source; internet sources are allowed so long as
they are articles from a scholarly journal or database.

Each group should turn in a brief summary of the presentation (typed, somewhere between a ½ page
to a full page), with a Works Cited page included. (Note: The summary is due on the date that your
group presents.)

The presentation is formal in the sense that you should be well-prepared for it; this will entail at least
one practice run through.
____________________________________________________________________
Each member of your group should choose one pilgrim from the General Prologue to The Canterbury Tales and
offer a discussion of how that character represents estates satire; in other words, offer a character analysis that
supports the assertion that Chaucer, in that particular portrait, is satirizing a specific class. (Hint: One way to
determine which characters are "people" versus which characters are "types" is to pay close attention to the
subtle details that Chaucer offers.)
ENGL 2120
Group #2: Marlowe, Dr. Faustus
Requirements:


Each presentation should be between 8-10 minutes long.
All individuals should share the responsibility equally; in other words, each group member should
take part in the planning process, the research, as well as the actual presentation itself. It's fine if you
prefer as a group to divide the work amongst yourselves, so long as each of you plays a part in all
aspects of the process, from preparation to delivery.

Presentations must adhere to the topic assigned; those presentations that are off topic will receive a
failing grade.

Presentations should incorporate at least one secondary source; internet sources are allowed so long as
they are articles from a scholarly journal or database.

Each group should turn in a brief summary of the presentation (typed, somewhere between a ½ page
to a full page), with a Works Cited page included. (Note: The summary is due on the date that your
group presents.)

The presentation is formal in the sense that you should be well-prepared for it; this will entail at least
one practice run through.
____________________________________________________________________
Examine the characterization of Mephistophilis in Marlowe's Dr. Faustus. In what ways is he problematic (or
counter to type/expectations) as a servant of the devil? Central to your discussion should be an examination of
why Marlowe might have characterized him as such. Along these same lines, consider the link between
Faustus's fall and his interactions with Mephistophilis and the other demons. What evidence is there to suggest
that Faustus is less a victim of their manipulation and more a willing participant?
ENGL 2120
Group #3: Marvell, “To His Coy Mistress”
Requirements:


Each presentation should be between 8-10 minutes long.
All individuals should share the responsibility equally; in other words, each group member should
take part in the planning process, the research, as well as the actual presentation itself. It's fine if you
prefer as a group to divide the work amongst yourselves, so long as each of you plays a part in all
aspects of the process, from preparation to delivery.

Presentations must adhere to the topic assigned; those presentations that are off topic will receive a
failing grade.

Presentations should incorporate at least one secondary source; internet sources are allowed so long as
they are articles from a scholarly journal or database.

Each group should turn in a brief summary of the presentation (typed, somewhere between a ½ page
to a full page), with a Works Cited page included. (Note: The summary is due on the date that your
group presents.)

The presentation is formal in the sense that you should be well-prepared for it; this will entail at least
one practice run through.
____________________________________________________________________
Provide a brief overview of the general style and content of the carpe diem poem. Then, discuss how Marvell's
"To His Coy Mistress" both adheres to and revises the carpe diem style/format.
ENGL 2120
Group #4: Swift, “A Modest Proposal”
Requirements:


Each presentation should be between 8-10 minutes long.
All individuals should share the responsibility equally; in other words, each group member should
take part in the planning process, the research, as well as the actual presentation itself. It's fine if you
prefer as a group to divide the work amongst yourselves, so long as each of you plays a part in all
aspects of the process, from preparation to delivery.

Presentations must adhere to the topic assigned; those presentations that are off topic will receive a
failing grade.

Presentations should incorporate at least one secondary source; internet sources are allowed so long as
they are articles from a scholarly journal or database.

Each group should turn in a brief summary of the presentation (typed, somewhere between a ½ page
to a full page), with a Works Cited page included. (Note: The summary is due on the date that your
group presents.)

The presentation is formal in the sense that you should be well-prepared for it; this will entail at least
one practice run through.
____________________________________________________________________
Discuss the cultural context during which Swift wrote “A Modest Proposal.” What social issues is Swift
addressing in his “proposal”?
ENGL 2120
Group #5: Pope, “The Rape of the Lock”
Requirements:


Each presentation should be between 8-10 minutes long.
All individuals should share the responsibility equally; in other words, each group member should
take part in the planning process, the research, as well as the actual presentation itself. It's fine if you
prefer as a group to divide the work amongst yourselves, so long as each of you plays a part in all
aspects of the process, from preparation to delivery.

Presentations must adhere to the topic assigned; those presentations that are off topic will receive a
failing grade.

Presentations should incorporate at least one secondary source; internet sources are allowed so long as
they are articles from a scholarly journal or database.

Each group should turn in a brief summary of the presentation (typed, somewhere between a ½ page
to a full page), with a Works Cited page included. (Note: The summary is due on the date that your
group presents.)

The presentation is formal in the sense that you should be well-prepared for it; this will entail at least
one practice run through.
____________________________________________________________________
Discuss the ways in which “The Rape of the Lock” is a mock epic.
ENGL 2120
Group #6: Percy Bysshe Shelley
Requirements:


Each presentation should be between 8-10 minutes long.
All individuals should share the responsibility equally; in other words, each group member should
take part in the planning process, the research, as well as the actual presentation itself. It's fine if you
prefer as a group to divide the work amongst yourselves, so long as each of you plays a part in all
aspects of the process, from preparation to delivery.

Presentations must adhere to the topic assigned; those presentations that are off topic will receive a
failing grade.

Presentations should incorporate at least one secondary source; internet sources are allowed so long as
they are articles from a scholarly journal or database.

Each group should turn in a brief summary of the presentation (typed, somewhere between a ½ page
to a full page), with a Works Cited page included. (Note: The summary is due on the date that your
group presents.)

The presentation is formal in the sense that you should be well-prepared for it; this will entail at least
one practice run through.
____________________________________________________________________
Briefly discuss some of the chief ideologies of the Romantic Era (i.e. What things did the Romantics value?
With what social/cultural issues were they concerned?), then examine the ways in which Shelley’s “Ode to the
West Wind” reflects these ideologies.
ENGL 2120
Group #7: Coleridge, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
Requirements:


Each presentation should be between 8-10 minutes long.
All individuals should share the responsibility equally; in other words, each group member should
take part in the planning process, the research, as well as the actual presentation itself. It's fine if you
prefer as a group to divide the work amongst yourselves, so long as each of you plays a part in all
aspects of the process, from preparation to delivery.

Presentations must adhere to the topic assigned; those presentations that are off topic will receive a
failing grade.

Presentations should incorporate at least one secondary source; internet sources are allowed so long as
they are articles from a scholarly journal or database.

Each group should turn in a brief summary of the presentation (typed, somewhere between a ½ page
to a full page), with a Works Cited page included. (Note: The summary is due on the date that your
group presents.)

The presentation is formal in the sense that you should be well-prepared for it; this will entail at least
one practice run through.
____________________________________________________________________
Examine the ways in which Coleridge juxtaposes Christian elements with elements of the supernatural. To
what effect does he do so? Consider, too, the issue of crime and punishment in the text – why might Coleridge
have spent so little time describing the killing of the Albatross, when it is such a crucial aspect of the overall
plot?
ENGL 2120
Group #8:
Woolf, A Room of One’s Own
Requirements:


Each presentation should be between 8-10 minutes long.
All individuals should share the responsibility equally; in other words, each group member should
take part in the planning process, the research, as well as the actual presentation itself. It's fine if you
prefer as a group to divide the work amongst yourselves, so long as each of you plays a part in all
aspects of the process, from preparation to delivery.

Presentations must adhere to the topic assigned; those presentations that are off topic will receive a
failing grade.

Presentations should incorporate at least one secondary source; internet sources are allowed so long as
they are articles from a scholarly journal or database.

Each group should turn in a brief summary of the presentation (typed, somewhere between a ½ page
to a full page), with a Works Cited page included. (Note: The summary is due on the date that your
group presents.)

The presentation is formal in the sense that you should be well-prepared for it; this will entail at least
one practice run through.
____________________________________________________________________
Offer an overview of Woolf’s basic argument – for what is she advocating? How does she justify her
argument? Discuss some of the most crucial elements of Woolf’s argument.